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Sprint Airave (Post #1 has a quick "FAQ" for help)

marctronixx said:
how do you have your femtocell connected to your network? for best results, you should have your femtocell/airvana BEHIND your router not in front of it. it sounds like you have the airvana first and everything else is downstream..thats a no-no.
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Well, from what I was told, (from a friend who has one of these things, that came with an instruction book), I have the LAN cable from the cable modem going to the WAN port on the back of the airvana. I then have another LAN cord going from the LAN1 port down to my wireless router. From the wireless router, goes 1 additional LAN cord to my home theater system internet tv.

I tried running the LAN cord from the router and then to the airvana, but it then gave me zero internet connectivity.

(Hopefully the slowness of my internet connection is just part of this thing initializing, as Sprint says it could take 4-8 hours for this thing to initialize.)

One other thing that irritates me about having to have the airvana is that Sprint told me that when i'm home, I need to switch my roaming options to "Sprint Only", not "Automatic". I told Sprint that I need it on automatic roaming, because I roam half of the time that I'm not home, and if it was on "Sprint only", I wouldn't have service. Sprint told me that I will just have to get in the habit of switching it to "Automatic" when I leave home, so that I can use my phone. What a joke.
 
0837s said:
Well, from what I was told, (from a friend who has one of these things, that came with an instruction book), I have the LAN cable from the cable modem going to the WAN port on the back of the airvana. I then have another LAN cord going from the LAN1 port down to my wireless router. From the wireless router, goes 1 additional LAN cord to my home theater system internet tv.

I tried running the LAN cord from the router and then to the airvana, but it then gave me zero internet connectivity.

(Hopefully the slowness of my internet connection is just part of this thing initializing, as Sprint says it could take 4-8 hours for this thing to initialize.)

One other thing that irritates me about having to have the airvana is that Sprint told me that when i'm home, I need to switch my roaming options to "Sprint Only", not "Automatic". I told Sprint that I need it on automatic roaming, because I roam half of the time that I'm not home, and if it was on "Sprint only", I wouldn't have service. Sprint told me that I will just have to get in the habit of switching it to "Automatic" when I leave home, so that I can use my phone. What a joke.
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This is the way the book shows... you run it straight out of the modem then to your router. This way will eat your speeds though. Set up your modem/router as you normally would, and run your cable from the router to the wan on the airave. (I spent 3 days on the phone with sprint figuring this out, only to find out that all my problems were on their end :-\ ) The only issue with this setup is that your upload speeds could be slow and you can have issues with dropped calls if to many people are on the system.
 
perhaps my post is unclear. allow me if you will..

the airvana second gen model has VoIP features in it. Perhaps sprint plans to launch this at some time down the road. however today its not there.

putting the airvana first in line and everything else down stream just allows the airvana to control QoS and give it the most bandwidth for VoIP calls..

to make a simple low resolution phone call from your mobile phone does not take much bandwidth at all. the best and recommended solution is to place the arivana on one of your ports on the router just like one of your computers.

I have both models and both were always after the router. putting the airvana higher up the food chain will waste your data connection in your home and you will be upset. :)
 
Ok. I switched things around and it still doesn't work. What I have now is Cable Modem to Router, to Airvana, no internet signal at all, so I'm going to put it back to how it was- Modem to Airvana to Router.
 
LOL, before you do any of that REMOVE the airvana COMPLETELY from the chain and see if you have a connection. the airvana is nothing but a computer. it has nothing to do with your internet connection.
 
marctronixx said:
LOL, before you do any of that REMOVE the airvana COMPLETELY from the chain and see if you have a connection. the airvana is nothing but a computer. it has nothing to do with your internet connection.
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Yes. If I remove the airvana completely from the mix and hook everything back up the way it was before the airvana, it works perfectly.

I just hooked it back up- Cable modem to Airvana to wireless router- its booting back up as we speak. If it doesn't work this time, its going back in the box and being sent back. I'll then cancel Sprint service and go to Verizon.
 
0837s said:
Yes. If I remove the airvana completely from the mix and hook everything back up the way it was before the airvana, it works perfectly.

I just hooked it back up- Cable modem to Airvana to wireless router- its booting back up as we speak. If it doesn't work this time, its going back in the box and being sent back. I'll then cancel Sprint service and go to Verizon.
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Call sprint... they had to reset mine on their end. They said they were having trouble with their system. Worked fine ever since.
 
I recently got an airave from Sprint for no cost (after a lil bitching about weak signal inside the home as opposed to outside), and had a little trouble with initial setup... but after that, its been amazing. Full signal all throughout my home and not a single dropped call on my end. I can even use 3G data in my home where before I couldn't use it at all (only wifi). Overall I'm satisfied and like it :)
 
Just talked to a customer retention rep who refused to give me a free airave. He said he wasn't allowed to. I'm a new Sprint customer and get around 1-2 bars on my house. I bitched a lot and the rep said a supervisor would call me back. I'm not paying $100 plus monthly fees for this thing, I'll just go back to AT$T.
 
you should call and get another rep. you can also email CS and explain to them in a mature fashion about your coverage area (lack of) and if this is your primary line, you need it to be avail 24/7 for emergencies, you have children(?) and they need to be able to call you if they are stuck at school, etc etc. let them know you rely on this mobile phone and if you shut off your landline due to the economy and in trying to save money, tell them that too (not sure if that is your situation or not.. just providing examples).

just explain to them you maybe roaming on another carrier at your place.. just size up your unique situation and then write to CS.

no one should just expect to be able to call into sprint and say "hey, gimmie my 'ave..." just does not happen.. earlier on when they launched these units, one could phone in and without much explaining could have received one. now that many are out there and some time has passed its a little difficult to get one without proving you need it.

so i say to all who are thinking of getting one and want to grab it for free, just write to CS and let them know why you need it.

just trying to offer some assistance...
 
i've heard mixed information on this from different sprint techs regarding potentially getting 4G through the airvana. one said potentially it's just a firmware update, another said not possible because the airvana does not have the hardware. is there a way to check the hardware now?
 
I have had Sprint for only 3 weeks now and have had horrible signal at my house. I called them today after seeing another thread on the Airave. I spoke to a rep and told them I wasn't getting good reception at my home and my wife runs a business from the house. I told them she is constantly dropping calls and we were thinking about switching back to ATT if I couldn't get signal. He then told me he would send me an Airave with no cost to me. So I agree with marctronixx and just tell them your situation. Hopefully I wont have any issues like others and I am looking forward to getting mine this week.
 
marctronixx said:
one is called Airave from samsung --thats version 1 with no 3G
the latest model is Airvana--- is much more bigger then the samsung unit-- it has 3G

lemme see a photo of it or point me to the sale? you can PM me if you want or just search the web for "airvana" and "airave".

*snip image here*

thats the AIrvana--latest generation with 3G.

more reading: http://androidforums.com/sprint/118966-sprint-airave-2.html
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I have this AirRave and it works great.

TheEngineer said:
Wow! It IS bigger! Look how it dwarfs that woman!
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Made me LOL IRL... haha :D

badankles said:
i've heard mixed information on this from different sprint techs regarding potentially getting 4G through the airvana. one said potentially it's just a firmware update, another said not possible because the airvana does not have the hardware. is there a way to check the hardware now?
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In my mind, why would I need a 3G AirRave when I also have a wireless router? Seems like it'd be easier to enable Wi-Fi and leave 4G turned off.
 
Ok, after reading through this whole thread, I am still thoroughly confused!

Today I called Sprint and they are sending me the Airvana (the newest Airave). I have virtually no signal in my house nor around a 1 mile radius of my house since I live in the mountains. They gave it to me for free without any monthly charges. Of course I will not get it for a few days.

It is the set-up that is confusing me and it seems like people are having so many problems.

I have a DSL modem which runs my desktop computer and various connections to my TV. Next to that I have a wireless modem which I use for my two laptops. I read somewhere that I need to connect the Airvana to both my DSL modem and my wireless router? Is that true?

I need the Airvana for my Optimus S. I do not use Wifi on my phone, nor do I intend to at this time. Will my phone operate normally as it does now once this is hooked up or if I ever get this hooked up properly? I just want more bars on my phone so I can access the market and internet without any issues and of course continue to text and make and receive calls. I want to continue to receive my emails to my phone as well. I do not want anything to get screwed up. The whole thing just seems complicated and people complain that this makes their calls drop and certain things will not work properly on their cell phones after hooking this up.

Please shed some light for me. I know there are multiple posts on this already but I guess I need a simple explanation in layman's terms! I am a newbie to smartphones and to the Airave! Thanks so much! :)
 
you WILL be using the wifi on your handset if you want to take advantage of the 3D data.

if you have a router that has a switch built into it you THEN add the airvana on that switch. do NOT put it FIRST. once you get the gadget there are instructions inside to help you.

please dont let the fact that a few people here scare you. there are hundreds of these things out in the wild and many have excellent service with it. people come here to post problems.. not to say how great it is..

there is a toll free tech support line that can help you along the way so you will not be without...
 
marctronixx said:
you WILL be using the wifi on your handset if you want to take advantage of the 3D data.

if you have a router that has a switch built into it you THEN add the airvana on that switch. do NOT put it FIRST. once you get the gadget there are instructions inside to help you.

please dont let the fact that a few people here scare you. there are hundreds of these things out in the wild and many have excellent service with it. people come here to post problems.. not to say how great it is..

there is a toll free tech support line that can help you along the way so you will not be without...
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You mean the 3G data? So I have to enable the Wifi on my phone I gather before I use the Airvana?. I have no idea about a switch. All I know is I have a normal DSL modem and a wireless router for my laptops, both side by side next to my desktop computer. Originally I thought it just needed to be plugged into my DSL modem via an ethernet cable. Then set up the GPS thing on it and that should be it. I will follow the instructions provided but since I have the wireless router as well as the DSL modem, I read that you need to use both. I need to clarify that.
 
you dont have to use the wifi to make calls.

the airvana is designed to be put AFTER the buildings modem.. in your case you have DSL so it comes from the phone jack into your DSL box. THEN the instructions would want you to put the airvana NEXT in line,

from the wall --->DSL modem--->Airvana.

doing it this way, which is what the manual will tell you, will give the airvana the MAJORITY of your bandwidth and leave a modest amount for your other devices down stream.. in this case your router and its connected components.

this is not recommended for normal use and the airvana should come off the back of your router. this is ASSuming your router has a switch built in.. and what i mean by a switch is it has ethernet ports on the back of it.. so if your router has ethernet (CAT 5) ports on the back then you can plug the airvana there. this is the best method fo real world use... i wont go into why as its already been discussed in this thread..

it will all make sense once you get the equipment. you are on the right track with the GPS.. make sure it can see the sky by placing it on a windowsill or some other means. its fairly weatherproof however i would not leave it in direct sunlight or extreme temps..
 
marctronixx said:
you dont have to use the wifi to make calls.

the airvana is designed to be put AFTER the buildings modem.. in your case you have DSL so it comes from the phone jack into your DSL box. THEN the instructions would want you to put the airvana NEXT in line,

from the wall --->DSL modem--->Airvana.

doing it this way, which is what the manual will tell you, will give the airvana the MAJORITY of your bandwidth and leave a modest amount for your other devices down stream.. in this case your router and its connected components.

this is not recommended for normal use and the airvana should come off the back of your router. this is ASSuming your router has a switch built in.. and what i mean by a switch is it has ethernet ports on the back of it.. so if your router has ethernet (CAT 5) ports on the back then you can plug the airvana there. this is the best method fo real world use... i wont go into why as its already been discussed in this thread..

it will all make sense once you get the equipment. you are on the right track with the GPS.. make sure it can see the sky by placing it on a windowsill or some other means. its fairly weatherproof however i would not leave it in direct sunlight or extreme temps..
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Ok, I checked the back of my wireless router, it has got 4 open LAN ethernet ports available in the back. The fifth one is used already for the yellow ethernet cable provided that goes into my DSL modem. So with that said, I should connect the Airvana to the wireless modem and not the DSL?

As for the wifi, in my house in order for me to go into the internet and market on my phone, and to receive texts and text back, I would need the wifi turned on my cell phone but it is not required just to make phone calls. Once I leave my home, I can keep it turned off, correct?

I appreciate your help and I am sorry about all the questions, this does help me understand the whole process more and give me a head start once the unit arrives! :)
 
just so we are on the same page, are you calling the wireless router the "wireless modem"? because there is a such thing as a wireless modem and a router is not to be confused with such.. a wireless router is that--a wireless router.. cant interchange the two.. :)

yes plug the airvana direct into the back of the wireless router with the antennas :D... what brand router do you have?
 
I have the wireless router (Netgear) that I use for my laptops. Then I have the DSL modem provided by my phone company that runs my desktop computer internet and various functions on my TV and Blu Ray player.

The Netgear wireless router has one port that is connected to my DSL modem and has 4 more available ports in the back.
 
cool so we are on the same page.. :D

so yeah just leave everything setup as you have it.. use one of the unused Ethernet ports on the back of your netgear router and your set.
 
marctronixx said:
cool so we are on the same page.. :D

so yeah just leave everything setup as you have it.. use one of the unused Ethernet ports on the back of your netgear router and your set.
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Excellent! So I do not even have to deal with the DSL Modem whatsoever! That makes it easier. Now here is my next question. Since I will plug the Airvana into the Netgear wireless modem, do I need to leave modem on at all times? Also, is there a need for the GPS thing to still be connected to the Airvana when using only the wireless modem?
 
well you need to make sure the DSL modem works and the router works.. but yeah just patch the airvana into a empty ethernet port on the netgear and your golden.

yes you need to connect the GPS and make sure it has a clear view of the sky. that will be used to tell the cellular network where you are and to hand off your calls.

yes the router and modem should be all running 24/7. you cant just turn off one component in the chain.. they all three have to be on to work (DSL modem,, router, airvana...) :)
 
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